One in all London’s most iconic sights, there’s solely a 10-week interval every year when you may get a glance contained in the monarch’s official London residence – so I’ve pulled collectively the following tips for visiting Buckingham Palace with youngsters (or with out) to benefit from it.
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There’s additionally a model new Coronation exhibition for 2023, so in the event you’re planning to take the tour of the Buckingham Palace state rooms, you’ve acquired an added incentive to ebook this 12 months.
The house of the British royal household since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837, it’s nonetheless a working palace with the ornate rooms used for state occasions and a uncommon probability to glimpse the gilded splendour behind the well-known facade. So in the event you’re planning to go to Buckingham Palace with youngsters, right here’s the whole lot it is advisable know.
Must you go to Buckingham Palace with youngsters?
A tour of the State Rooms isn’t the most affordable factor to do in London with youngsters, so the primary query to reply have to be, is Buckingham Palace family-friendly?
And you’ll completely go to Buckingham Palace with youngsters – with just a few provisos.
Personally I believe that is someplace that’s higher for college age youngsters and older. There’s an important free household multimedia tour and household actions within the gardens however in any other case it’s (understandably) not very fingers on.
For older youngsters, attending to see inside a palace and its spectacular rooms, imagining kings, queens and mischievous corgis as they go, it’s implausible. However the considered chasing a bored toddler who desires to run off, whereas surrounded by priceless artwork and furnishings makes my blood run chilly.
Having mentioned that, there’s nothing to cease you bringing youthful youngsters in and I did see one younger toddler throughout my go to, so it’s actually potential – simply be ready to go spherical sooner than you would possibly like.
Do try the interactive map on-line earlier than you go to, to present youngsters a style of what they’re going to see as effectively, and discover the palace just about. There’s additionally a listing of 10 highlights to identify, which makes a enjoyable treasure hunt.
You’ll be able to’t use your personal buggy/stroller – these need to be checked at the beginning of the tour and picked up on the finish – whereas bathrooms and child altering services are solely obtainable on the finish of the tour.
You’ll be able to’t eat or drink contained in the palace (apart from bottled water), though you’ll be able to breastfeed anyplace, and there are benches in a number of the rooms.
Do it’s a must to prebook tickets?
You don’t need to, tickets could also be obtainable on the day, however because the Buckingham Palace state rooms are solely open for a part of the 12 months, it’s a good suggestion to ebook upfront.
There’s additionally a reduction in the event you prebook tickets on-line – at present from £30 for adults, £16.50 for kids aged 5-17, below fives go free.
Get a reduction in the event you ebook utilizing my hyperlink and the code MUMMYTRAVELS6
You too can convert tickets right into a one 12 months go, in the event you assume you would possibly return inside 12 months.
There’s a household low cost which is mechanically utilized in the event you ebook no less than one grownup and two kids, as much as two adults and 4 kids, saving as much as £24 if you ebook direct.
Tickets have a 15-minute time slot, and also you’re requested to reach on the time proven in your ticket.
When are the Buckingham Palace state rooms open?
The principle public opening runs for 10 weeks from mid July to late September. This 12 months’s opening dates are July 14-September 24, 2023.
The Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in any other case opening time is 9.30am. Final entry is 17.15 through the summer season months (with the palace closing at 19.30), and at 16.15 from September 1-24 (with the palace closing at 18.30)
In the event you’re visiting London outdoors these dates, scroll down for extra particulars of the guided excursions which occur on chosen dates between November and Could
The place’s the doorway to the Buckingham Palace tour?
You received’t get to undergo the grand gates on the entrance, sadly. As a substitute the doorway for the summer season opening of the Buckingham Palace state rooms is on Buckingham Palace highway.
In the event you’re standing wanting on the entrance of the palace, merely head spherical to the left, observe Spur Highway to Buckingham Palace Highway, and also you received’t have the ability to miss the doorway, with employees checking tickets earlier than safety.
The closest underground stations are Victoria, Inexperienced Park and St James’s Park. In the event you’re strolling from Victoria station, simply observe Buckingham Palace Highway from the station previous the doorway for the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery and also you’ll see it on the left.
Be ready for safety
You’ll have to go by way of airport type safety with bag searches and X-ray, though this was very fast and environment friendly.
In the event you’re visiting with Buckingham Palace with youngsters, you’ll be able to’t convey a buggy/stroller into the state rooms, so might want to depart that at the beginning of the tour and gather it on the finish within the gardens.
You’ll be able to’t convey massive baggage (or varied different objects together with bikes, folding bikes and rollerskates) in in any respect, whereas another objects should be left and picked up after the tour, akin to massive umbrellas (smaller fold-up ones that go in your bag are tremendous).
Examine the full checklist of safety restrictions right here – but it surely’s principally frequent sense.
Do get the audio information
The audioguide is included in your ticket, in 9 languages, plus British Signal Language (in addition to a descriptive tour for the blind and visually impaired). There’s little or no info within the rooms in any other case, so with out the information, you’ll miss many of the element.
You’ll be able to select the grownup model or the household multimedia tour (and it’s straightforward to flick between the 2 in the event you do need to hear bits of each).
I began off alternating between the completely different choices, however switched to the household audio just a few rooms in, because it did an important job of bringing the state rooms to life, choosing out quirky particulars and including some enjoyable parts.
Picture: Derry Moore
The tour is narrated by footman Alice, together with Rex the corgi, and is geared toward youngsters below 12. Having mentioned that, it nonetheless packs in comparable quantities of knowledge to the grownup tour, simply in a extra simply digestible trend.
There are additionally some enjoyable video games for teenagers to play – I’m ashamed to say it took me three makes an attempt to accurately set a desk – in addition to particulars to identify within the rooms, challenges and different interactive enjoyable.
One spotlight was being requested to identify the key door within the White Drawing Room: closed throughout our go to (it’s usually ajar), it actually wasn’t straightforward to identify however led to an important dialog with the member of employees within the room – and in addition the invention that one different set of extra apparent doorways are fakes, designed to stability the room, with nothing however wall behind them.
You received’t have the ability to take pictures inside
For as soon as, you’ll be able to put telephones and cameras away, as pictures aren’t permitted contained in the state rooms – solely within the gardens on the finish of the tour.
We had been additionally given permission to {photograph} the Coronation Exhibition and Diamond Jubilee coach within the courtyard however ordinarily that isn’t allowed.
Don’t be tempted to sneak just a few snaps – employees had been conserving a detailed eye on all guests and reminding them if they’d telephones out, so in the event you’re caught, you might be escorted out.
Permit loads of time
There are 14 rooms with multimedia information commentary through the tour of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace, fairly other than the prospect to discover a number of the gardens.
Permit no less than two hours to your go to, extra if you wish to benefit from the actions within the household pavilion on the finish, or go to the cafe.
You’ll be able to go at your personal tempo although, so in the event you really feel inclined to linger – or in case your youngsters are going to get bored after round an hour – you’ll be able to velocity up and decelerate as you need.
What are you able to see within the state rooms at Buckingham Palace?
The tour of the Buckingham Palace state rooms takes you thru 14 separate rooms with audioguide commentary.
Beginning within the Grand Corridor and climbing the Grand Staircase, you’ll go to the Inexperienced Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Image Gallery, the East Gallery, the Ballroom, the State Eating Room, the Blue Drawing Room, the Music Room, the White Drawing Room, the Marble Corridor and the Bow Room.
For sure, it’s not possible to seize each element in a weblog submit, particularly one targeted on ideas for visiting Buckingham Palace; it is advisable go on the tour to essentially recognize it. However count on large rooms, priceless artwork, numerous gold and ornamentation, and spectacular decor as you go!
To pick just a few highlights, you’ll be able to spot the whole lot from a fragile pot pourri holder within the form of a ship, considered one of solely 12 ever made by Sevres (and considered one of solely 10 nonetheless in existence) proper as much as the thrones embroidered with the King and Queen’s cyphers and a few faux marble columns.
The artwork within the image gallery is only a small fraction of the million works within the royal assortment – which additionally consists of sculpture, furnishings and different artworks – together with the whole lot from Rubens, Rembrandt and Vermeer to Canaletto and Van Dyck.
There are additionally some insights into royal household life as you stroll by way of the lengthy East Gallery, whose fastidiously positioned mirrors make it appear to stretch on without end.
Constructed for Queen Victoria, together with the ballroom, to permit her to host balls for as much as two thousand friends, the partitions are lined with portraits of the Queen and her household – with a reminder within the household audio information that Victoria was solely 19 when she was topped, a 12 months after she inherited the throne.
Or the jaw-dropping info that the desk within the state eating room could be prolonged so it’s so long as a cricket pitch – and the spare leaves are saved in one of many many secret rooms and cabinets within the palace, tucked away behind mirrored doorways.
There’s modern-day trivia too – seeing the room the place the present Prince of Wales was baptised, or studying clear a chandelier – in addition to details about the palace itself, from the variety of employees (round 800) to the variety of lightbulbs (round 40,000).
My favorite was maybe the White Drawing Room (truly much more gold and yellow), which has faux doorways, actual doorways and a secret door to seek out…
What’s the Coronation exhibition at Buckingham Palace?
The brand new Coronation exhibition consists of the outfits worn by King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the coronation in Could, on show for the primary time.
Staged within the ballroom – which was used for Coronation rehearsals, the grand robes with their embroidered trains are joined by different objects of regalia, in addition to the Throne Chairs and the Anointing Display screen used through the ceremony.
There’s additionally the prospect to see sketches for the invites, alongside one of many completed creations, plus different symbolic objects together with the Coronation glove and girdle, to not point out the diamond necklace worn by the Queen Consort.
It’s fascinating to get probability to see a number of the gold embroidery up shut, hand embroidered by the Royal Faculty of Needlework at Hampton Court docket Palace, with private touches in addition to extra symbolic emblems – one thing even one of the best TV protection of the day couldn’t present.
The exhibition will run till September 24, when the State Rooms near the general public as soon as extra. The Diamond Jubilee State Coach can even be on show as you enter the courtyard earlier than heading contained in the state rooms themselves.
In the event you purchase a Royal Day Out ticket, additionally together with entry to the Royal Mews, you’ll be able to see the historic Gold State Coach – amongst different royal coaches and carriages – which carried the King again to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey
Will you see the royal household?
Sadly not – or not until you’re very fortunate. Historically, the royal household heads to their Scottish residence of Balmoral for the summer season, so that they’re away from London whereas the state rooms are open – and King Charles has confirmed he’ll be persevering with the custom, as Queen Elizabeth did.
In any case, the tour takes you although the general public state rooms moderately than the personal rooms, so even when members of the royal household are in residence, they’ll be elsewhere within the large palace.
You’ll be able to verify earlier than you go in: if the monarch is in residence, the royal customary can be flying, in any other case you’ll see the union flag above the palace, if the royal household is at one other residence akin to Windsor Citadel or Sandringham.
Don’t miss the household pavilion
In the event you’re visiting Buckingham Palace with youngsters, do save time to take a look at the household pavilion within the gardens.
You’ll discover it simply after the purpose the place you come the multimedia guides and there are some nice actions for teenagers.
There’s a small smooth play space for the youngest guests, in addition to tables with crafts and actions. You’ll additionally discover a dressing up field, numerous probabilities to pose for pictures, and different video games and quizzes to check youngsters on their royal data.
You too can obtain a backyard path, colouring and drawing actions from the Royal Assortment Belief web site, plus there are generally further occasions for households.
Save time to benefit from the gardens
The trail from the palace to the exit on Grosvenor Palace leads by way of the gardens, with a view again to Buckingham Palace over the lake.
You’re restricted to the place you’ll be able to discover within the gardens nonetheless – the lawns are roped off, for instance – so you’ll be able to’t spend lengthy wandering and also you do have to preserve to the paths.
What services are there at Buckingham Palace?
Many of the services for guests are in direction of the tip of the tour, together with bathrooms and child altering within the gardens.
If you’re visiting Buckingham Palace with youngsters, it’s price discovering bathrooms earlier than you head inside – there are public bathrooms at Victoria station – because it’s more likely to be over an hour earlier than you attain the gardens (and you’ll’t depart and retrace your steps). And no, you’ll be able to’t use the king’s rest room on the best way!
In the principle block within the gardens, there are household bathrooms and really good handwash although. Preparations could be made for guests with disabilities, however you’re requested to contact the specialist gross sales staff upfront.
There’s additionally a restaurant within the gardens, in addition to stands serving ice cream and drinks – sadly the coronation ice cream (which is crimson, white and blue) wasn’t on sale throughout our go to.
There’s no consuming and consuming contained in the palace (other than bottled water).
You’ll additionally discover the store alongside the trail by way of the gardens in your method out.
Are you able to go to the state rooms at Buckingham Palace at another time?
Sure, there are restricted probabilities to discover the Buckingham Palace state rooms outdoors the principle summer season opening, with guided excursions operating on chosen dates from November to Could.
These value £90 per particular person, or there are additionally Household Guided Excursions obtainable the place tickets for kids aged 5-17 value £49.50, and below 5s are free.
If you’re becoming a member of a guided tour, you’ll enter by way of the Royal Mews and there are bathroom services obtainable at the beginning in addition to the tip of the tour. You’re additionally requested to reach half-hour earlier than the entry time in your ticket, and should undergo an identical safety course of because the self-guided tour.
Excursions normally take round 90 minutes to 2 hours, and the opposite restrictions (akin to no pictures inside) stay the identical.
Aside from that, you’d want a private invitation from a member of the royal household or be invited to an official occasion to get in!
What else is there to do close to Buckingham Palace with youngsters?
You’re in straightforward strolling distance of each St James’s Park, with its pelicans (and a beautiful view of the palace from the Blue Bridge) and of Inexperienced Park in case your youngsters have to run off some vitality.
You can additionally mix a go to with the Altering of the Guard ceremony, or an opportunity to see the guards at Horseguards Parade.
There are additionally two different Royal Assortment Belief sights on the Palace – the Royal Mews, which homes the Gold State coach, amongst different historic carriages, and the Queen’s Gallery. There’s a reduction in the event you ebook utilizing my hyperlink and the code MUMMYTRAVELS6.
For extra royal locations in London with youngsters, try my choose of one of the best for households who love historical past (or mini monarchists)
Westminster Abbey and the Homes of Parliament are round a 15-minute stroll from the doorway to the State Rooms, and the household sights on the South Financial institution are solely a brief stroll additional on.
Or obtain this Royal London Strolling tour, designed to take round 50 minutes, introducing you to a number of the historical past round Buckingham Palace and Westminster.
Disclosure: My entry to Buckingham Palace was free for the needs of assessment – all opinions and ideas for visiting Buckingham Palace are my very own. This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Important picture/Buckingham Palace gates courtesy of Depositphotos; Throne Room courtesy Royal Assortment Belief/© His Majesty King Charles III 2023; White Drawing Room courtesy Royal Assortment Belief/© His Majesty King Charles III 2023/Derry Moore; all different pictures copyright MummyTravels
